US Secretary of Defence says it is important to reach out to Pakistan if US wants to dismantle Afghan militant havens. PHOTO: AFP

KABUL: US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta said on Tuesday that it was important to reach out to Pakistan if the United States wants to dismantle Afghan militant havens.

“It’s been said a number of times that ultimately we can’t win the war in Afghanistan without being able to win in our relationship with Pakistan as well,” said Panetta.

The US Secretary of Defence is visiting Kabul to discuss the situation in Pakistan and to reaffirm America’s commitment to Afghanistan as Washington starts to withdraw combat troops and hand over security to Afghan forces.

“It’s going to be important, as we continue to move and progress in our efforts in Afghanistan, that we continue to outreach to Pakistan. This has been a difficult and complicated relationship but it is an important relationship.

Pakistan shut the US supply line into landlocked Afghanistan on November 26 after the Nato attack on a Pakistani check post that killed 25 Pakistani soldiers, saying that the blockade could last weeks longer, and forced Americans to leave the Shamsi air base.

US officials have accused Pakistan of supporting the Afghan Taliban and its Haqqani faction, whose leaders are based on Pakistani soil.

“They have provided cooperation in areas that have been important to us and at the same time we’ve had some serious difficulties with regards to the operations that involve groups in the Fata (Pakistan’s tribal belt) and groups along the border.”

Pakistan called the November 26 attack deliberate. US commanders deny it was intentional. US investigators are due to submit a report on December 23.

“In the end Pakistan and the US do share the same concerns with regards to terrorism,” said Panetta.

Afghanistan and the US troops’ withdrawal

The Pentagon chief says that violence is falling in Afghanistan, where the US has been at war with the Taliban for 10 years.

“I think 2011 will mark a turning point with regards with the efforts to Afghanistan,” Panetta told journalists on the flight to Kabul.

“Troops have been able to reduce the levels of violence there. They are successful in securing some of the key areas in Afghanistan. There’s greater success in the Afghan military and police.”

The US has announced the withdrawal of 10,000 of its 100,000 troops by the end of the year, while 23,000 others will leave the country by the end of September 2012 after the summer “fighting season”.

The number corresponds to the 33,000 “surge” troops ordered in by President Barack Obama in late 2009 in a bid to reverse the Taliban insurgency, defeat al Qaeda and quicken an end to the war.

Recent media reports, not denied by the Pentagon, say the focus of the US mission is turning increasingly to building up the Afghan army to take on more responsibility in the fight against the Taliban.

Panetta welcomed the “significant achievement” of a second phase of transition from Nato to Afghan security control, which was launched this month in conjunction with the planned exit of all Nato combat troops in 2014.

In the second wave, Afghan forces will take charge of six provinces, seven provincial capitals and more than 40 districts, including three in the southern province of Helmand, one of most deadly in the conflict.

More than half of Afghans live in an area included in either the first or second phase of transition, according to Karzai.

“That of course requires greater and greater efforts by the ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) as they’re moving to the lead,” a senior US defence official said, speaking anonymously.

During his two-day visit, the former CIA director will also meet General John Allen, the US commander in Afghanistan, troops and US embassy staff.

The Pentagon chief, who made a brief stop in Djibouti before arriving in Kabul, will next travel to Iraq, Turkey and Libya.

Reader Comments (70)

The kind of “outreach” we’ve lately had from our “friends” operating in Afghanistan we can do without, I think. Panetta and the Pentagon need to get real: Pakistan has come under attack, and NATO is in severe breach of International Law in having attacked Pakistani posts. They aren’t fooling anyone. Pakistan cannot sink so low as to not object strongly, unless it wants to lose whatever self-respect it may have left.

Wheres vasan? Where’s Mark H? Where are the rest of indians who like to prefer to invest their time advising us Pakistanis with their hateful Anti-Pakistan comments, telling us how we are dispensable?
It says something that a poor corrupt economically, politically destabilised country like Pakistan is needed the most by the super power United States. It says something that despite the presence of 72 countries strong ISAF force, they cant stabilise Afghanistan without help from so called isolated Pakistan? This is a security no one, not even India can provide except for Pakistan.
So you may not like us you need us. And no amount of isolating and punishing us will change this reality.

No war cant be win in Afghanistan without Pakistan American spend billions of dollars on weapons if they spend wisely on research and construction they had won the war of hearts and mind all over world …..Actually it was not war against Taliban or Al qaeda it was against Pakistan. Pakistan lost 80 billion US$ 40,000 innocent Pakistanis, 5000 army personal. Pakistan dnt need your aid it would automatically go to corrupt Government of PPP MQM PMLQ and ANP. Go back to school Mr Panetta you need to study.

America took very long time to realize the fact that pakistan and Afghanistan are operating together . The one thing which is common in both the countries is the word “ISLAM” .The terrorists at the moment are quite because of the active movements of U.S.A defense army . The world (except china) are with the decisions of U.S.A because they know its fight against terrorism . We love the president of United States of America for all the brave decisions he is been taking . If the terror is stopped the world would admire U.S.A and the president .

Maryam : lol we made a huge mistake when we let you live on our land while soviets butchered you. afghans are not really a good nation to host. We must have put you in a camp surronded by wires like iran did. but no we had to be your brother and all tht

When America talks about victory – they talk about creating a stable country that can stand on it’s own and be an asset to the region. This can’t happen unless Pakistan helps — but to be blunt – Pakistan is only marginally better than Afghanistan — you don’t control large sections of your own country and terrorist slaughter your own people every day and you seem to either ignore it or blame it on the American’s.

this is the age old rhetoric “you are either with us or against us!”. i say let it be without them ans lets see where it gets everyone to be against them too if needed. this east-west love-hate relationship needs to come full cycle and people on both sides need to choose between love/respect and perpetual hate/war. for as long as Ive been alive, all i have seen is conflict and war. Is there anything else in store for us as people ?

personally i think, we should do everything possible to be friends with everyone, safeguard the interest of our people, focus on winning our share in the global economy, and get jobs for our youth. move away from radicalization, and eventually shift our military budgets to education. we are a hard working nation that is built on strong fundamental values that teach us respect for everyone. let us go back to basics.

Pakistan must make it clear to America and its hired mercenaries (America calls them NATO allies) that Pakistan does not recognize the British drawn Durand Line or the Ruski drawn border dividing the Tajik people. The Afghan border is on the Planes of Panipat and Pakistani border is on the Amu Darya. It is matter of ONE NATION UNDER GOD: the Islamic Republics. The Pakhtoons are the glue that binds the Islamic Republics together. Hazaras, all Tajiks, Uzbeks, Sindhis, Punjabis and Baluch are equal citizens of A SOVERIGN NATION. The Saudis, under the influence of their foreign masters, try to sow enmity between Sunni and Shia, but that effort will also nor prevail upon a nation UNDER GOD.
Yes, the people of the United Islamic Republics need America; but America also needs the United Islamic Republics. Instead of trying to divide the people of Islamic Republics, America should help them find a way to create a BETTER UNION.Recommend

I am proud to say that there is non other than pakistan who decides the fate of super powers of the globe. Yesterday it was USSR begging and today US looking to pakistan to save its face. PAKISTAN ZINDABAD

Its common sense if you ask any one in south asia that has hit Centcom now …You can be the best fire fighter but still if you want to douse the fire in afghanistan permanently you need to take care of the arsonist nearby else as soon as the fire engine returns home to US ,rest assured the house in afghanistan will be set on fire again ..

A sane voice which is not heard in the quarters that matter.Recognition of sacrifices by the people of Pakistan is the main problem of USA and its new founded allies who’s worth is zero in this part of the world.Be visionary and futuristic don’t toe the line of born losers.God bless our beloved land.Recommend

@CommonSense: Umm, I’m Indian, and I wish no ill to Pakistan. However, I would humbly request you to analyze why Pakistan is a key piece in the Afghan puzzle. Is it because Pakistan will “contribute” anything towards building Afghanistan, or because it has a “nuisance value” in the form of Quetta Shura and Haqqanis? Is US engaging Pakistan because of the “negative elements” in Pakistan that need to be controlled, or because it wants to extract “positive elements” like money, natural resources, or skilled manpower? I really really hope that the world, along with my India, should “beg” Pakistan to provide the positive elements. I also hope that Pakistan is never called important because it has terrorists who need to be controlled/eliminated, but because it has people, ideas, technology, and resources that bring peace and development to world. I am not saying my India is great or anything, but I am proud to be a part of a positive idea, imperfectly impelemented but positively and sufficiently imagined. Peace and best wishes! :)Recommend

We have been striving to achieve the same goals in the region and that mission has certainly brought its fare share of obstacles. At the same time, we cannot even think about underestimating the impact of the Salala incident, and completely understand that the people of Pakistan are still mourning the loss. We cannot express enough our sorrow over the incident, and sincerely hope that this would not mark the end of our efforts against those who are dead set on destabilizing the region. Emotions are running high and it is obvious that the logic of redirecting our attention towards the common enemies is struggling to survive against the resentment. But we can only emphasize the importance of both nations in the region, while the investigation into Salala incident is ongoing. Our officials have repeatedly regretted this incident and like Cameron Munter said in his latest interview: “in the coming days, most of all we want to make sure that we learn from this and that this never happens again. The mechanism that should have prevented this failed. We need to work together to make sure that mechanisms are in place and this should not happen again.” No two other nations have sacrificed as much as the US and Pakistan in this WOT, and it is only fair to acknowledge each other’s efforts in this common mission. We hope for the sake of the region that this relationship will find the strength to recover and eliminate the threat that continues to haunt our nations.

That means you are not going to win the war Leon. You will not never, ever win Pakistan, even if you give all the money in this world.

As a US Tacx payer, I want to you to figure out how to win the war without Pakistan, if you can’t you need to resign immediatley and let Petraus take over then we will win this war without Pakistan. That’s the only option we have. No more good money after bad.Recommend

@CommonSense: US has been saying this just from the beginning. They cannot win the Afghan war without Pakistan. They know this just from the beginning because most of the terrorists are remote controlled from Pakistan. But US is not ready to apologise for the brutant checkpost attack which killed 24 pak soldiers. Nor can they give guarantee that no such attack will take place in future. They are ready to compensate with money. But pakistan has to be their whipping boy whenever they feal like that. If you still feal US is appreciating your sacrifices in their war on terror you are welcome to help them

First week: Freeze of 700 million.
Second week: Stop all aid: 3 billion.
Third week: Stops trade : 3.5 billion.
Fourth week: Asks all US banks to stop working and handling Pak money. Now the world is in a bind to stop business. No Pakistani can send money to Pak except havwala.
Fifth week: Pak comes to a grind.

You can never win Afghan war with bullet. you have already spent 10 years in Afghanistan and still there is no chance to win and end of this war. Please stop thinking to win Pakistan. Let Pakistan and Afghanistan on their fate. This is the only solution which is in the better interest of USA as well as Pakistan and Afghanistan. Please think positively!

It’s kinda funny to see a few commentators taking pride in Panetta’s statement. This statement proves again that how much the US is convinced about Pakistan’s controlling the Jihadi elements inside Afghanistan and Pakistan. It proves that the Govt. of Pakistan won’t allow Afghanistan to decide it’s own policy and will try influence it in favor of Pakistan using the terrorist. Wake up guys…your “strategic assets” are known as terrorists all over the world and it’s a shame that you use it as an instrument of state policy.

@CommonSense: ” It says something that despite the presence of 72 countries strong ISAF force, they cant stabilise Afghanistan without help from so called isolated Pakistan? This is a security no one, not even India can provide except for Pakistan.
“

What he is stating in diplomatic terms is that
1. Pak provides safe haven for afghan Taliban who attack NATO forces
2. Pak provides raw materials for the IEDs used by Afghan Taliban
3. Pak pushes terrorists across the border. Until Pak stops that we cannot win in Afghanistan.

So unless Pak stops supporting terrorists NATO cannot succeed. Of course India cannot substitute for Pak because India does not harbor terrorists or pursue a policy of strategic depth that Pakistan does.

@Paul D: Take what ever steps you want to, but just pay the taxes for the complete tax free fuel supply to US/ NATO troops from year 2002 onwards from Pakistan. We might then not need any of the grants then.

@Paul D: to Commonsense
If I had to put it down, it would not go past Week 2. At this point Pakistan will come to a grinding halt for there is enough fuel in the country which can last not more than a couple of weeks and there is no money to pay for more. If Pakistan depends on Saudi credit, it will be miscalculating. Iran, perhaps yes but not for very long.
Walk gingerly, Pakistan, for you know not that you may be walking right into a mine field and you cannot even backtrack. You have chosen a wrong adversary (as if you ever chose the right one!)

Instead of supporting terrorism, why not to push for a Kashmir solution and use it as a bargain chip. As a matter of fact in the beginning of President Obama’s term, he wanted to raise this issue and in public voiced out but our lobbyists could not bank it and Indian personals got it the way they wanted, USA wouldn’t speak the ‘K’ word. Indians succeeded upto the level that Dr. Fai is in jail and ISI’s illegitimate funding proven in the court. We should have been competitive enough but unfortunately we are selfish and individually focused and not nationally centered.

@Paul
Teaching Pakistanis the art of common sense, when you launch not one but TWO dumb ways, which tanked your military and economy in to a 2 trillion debt burden, but made some of your worst enemy countries (Iran, China, Venezuela, Syria) super powers that you cant even reign. Forget Pakistan, you guys cant even get North Korea in line, the US is finding itself isolated and cornered.
And oh please oh please stop with your non-existent threats over non existent leverage’s. Pakistan has suffered $4 billion in losses over the damaged roads from NATO tankers, its lost 21 billion dollars worth of damage in the recent floods. Our economy is as bad as it can get and your aid is never benefited the common man. The only people crying over the loss of your aid is our corrupt politicians.
So get a reality check. Even the Iranians dont take you seriously, they have been threatening you day and night and still you havn’t done anything about it! Pakistan is increasingly asserting its independence and its a bitter pill you will have to swallow.

@Dee Cee
I am not going to bother to get into a debate about India’s so called ‘positive contribution’ keeping in mind its brutal records in Kashmir (which btw is a ticking time bomb, keep piling up those mass graves, and mass rapes till Kashmir becomes your Tunisia). I also know for a fact that under the pretentious halo you guys put up, is an ugly reality that India too like all other countries resorts to proxy wars to further your interests. You wont admit it openly, but everyone knows how you have been trying to stir dissent groups in pakistan and even abroad. Everyone knows that the reason you signed the strategic treaty with Karzai is because you want to corner Pakistan from both sides. If you really did care about Afghan interests like you claim, you would never prop up a sham of a puppet President like Karzai, who not is absolutely corrupt, has inside dealings with the drug network in Afghanistan, and has over the last 10 years done absolute nothing to improve his country’s condition beyond it was under the Taliban.
You guys play the ‘morality’ card over Afghanistan, because honestly you have nothing else in real value to offer unlike Pakistan. Every country’s policies are based on realpolitiks and so is ours, you may not like it but its the reality. And really its not something we are going to apologise about.
So if you really are going to try to stir a debate, how about you try to be honest about your intentions for once.

The USA needs to pay to the past 10 years of using Pakistani roads. Reimbursement in full for tolls and highway repairs. Reimbursement in full for Pakistani military operations. Reimbursement in Full PLUS INTEREST on the F-16s (Pressler Amendment). Full Reimbursement for imposing economic sanctions on Pakistan.

In addition, Pakistan must get full access to civilian AND MILITARY nuclear technology from the USA and NATO; by passing a LAW in the US Congress and various EU nations recognizing Pakistan as a FULL NUCLEAR WEAPON STATE. Pakistan will NOT sign the NPT, CBT or any other nuclear agreement for this complete legal recognition of Pakistan’s nuclear weapon status.

Finally, complete and full sanctions will be imposed on India for its illegal occupation of Kashmir.

Love your India, and go comment on India’s news websites, not ours :) You say u hope Pakistan doesnt become an important country becaause it has terrorists in it? U are saying there are non in India??! LOL. Peace

Ha ha..After all, Leon Panetta has said what the ‘Ghairatmand’ brigade wanted to hear. No body bothered to read in between lines. Remember, it was GWB2 who said “you’re with us..else we will bomb your country back to stone age..” US is still capable of it. Once the carpet bombings will start, all these ‘ghairatmand’ people will be running out like roaches..

I feel really sorry to some comments where pakistanis are feeling proud as if they have brought USA to its knees using their strategic thinking… Oh my god.. how blind and deaf people have become… What he really meant was if pakistan doesn’t end its support to militants, we wont be able to succeed.. Pakistan cannot live with this for long.. Don’t you see, your country is being sidelined in every world affair….Even the arabs are trying to keep their distance.. Anyway good luck…

Why is this so difficult for everyone to understand? The problem is quite simple: America was attacked by Islamist extremists who plotted and trained in Afghanistan. According to numerous public opinion polls, most Afghans and Pakistanis share the extremists’ viewpoint and support their goals; i.e replacing current regional governments with a caliphate and waging an eternal jihad against the rest of the world until Islam is triumphant. This is no secret: it is an explicit religious duty. So yes, America is doomed to fail in its effort to transform Afghanistan into a stable democracy with equal rights for all because that’s not Sharia, and most Afghans don’t want it and most Pakistanis don’t want it. America continues to delude itself believing that the Islamists can be reasoned with, or that we can have some kind of peceful coexistance with them, as if they were Amish or something. Read the comments section of ET or the Nation for goodness sake if you want to know what these people think, then remember that these are the educated, literate in English Pakistani opinions. You can only guess how much worse it is when it comes to the masses. America has lost the propaganda war, as election after election in the Muslim world confirms. They have chosen the path of Bin Laden. Time to deal with reality rather than wishful thinking.

This is the confessional statement by Panetta that we have lost war and we are facing the most ever worst defeat in Afghanistan and this is absolutely and precisely right and true.And if US’ officials think in this way then why US’ officials violate Pakistani territories and sovereignty?What kind of policies they are adopting about Pakistan?Why some US’ officials say that we have gained war objectives in Afghanistan?Why US’ and NATO’s officials don’t accept and face the reality before the world and especially US’ nation?

It may hurt the egos of Pakistanis but we must realise that on the grand diplomatic chessboard we are a piece, not a player. To become a player a nation has to have economic and military independence, social cohesion, and diplomatic reach

The US has decided to cut off aid. Lets see who wins this game of cat and mouse and is begging on its knees in the end. Pakistan is entering a game that it cant win and educated people including the nutcase mullahs are pushing Pakistan to the brink financially and politically. Goodluck with all this false bravado. The current state of affairs makes one sad at decisions being taken with no long term strategy and plan in mind.

@AnisAqeel:
Good suggestion but whom are you telling so, Pakistan military! Forget Kashmir for now and strengthen your country on economic front if you want to achieve any success on Kashmir front. Military can’t solve this, economy can.

And one more thing Mr. Panetta…No governement in Afghanistan can survive unless it is supported by Pakistan. Certainly this is gonna be a severe blow to your greedy daughter in this region. You have to accept the fact that you are fighting the force you created few years ago with the help of Pakistan. You thought you could easily detach Pakistan from that force and turn the political scene of the region in favour of you and your greedy daughter. But you failed and it is soon becoming an open failure. You know it better and bitter than me but you cant afford to lengthen your stay. And unfortunately every kid in Pakistan came to know your position. You are a super man everywhere else, but not here any more. You have failed to achieve those targets which you wished and political scene of the region is swinging back to what was few years ago.Recommend